Centering device and cushion for buffer stems



June E6 1942 R. 6.. mcHoLs CENTEHJINE: DEVICE ANE CUSHION FOR BUFFER STEMS Filed July 9'. 1940 S d R. Y 0 E T N N6 R w n m Y B T .0 N km S Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES A EN OF V ,lfzgsasrs CENTERING Davie]; AND oUsHroN' FOR g 'BUFFERSTEMS- 7 A Ralph G. Nichols, St. OharlesfMol,assignor to American Car and Foundry Company, New

1 York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 9, 1940, Serial Ne..s44,sc1

- '10 Claims. (c1.213 22) This invention relates to improvements in buifer stems and in particular to centering devices and cushions for such stems.

In practically all passenger cars as heretofore built the buffer stems have been permitted,-

would swing violently toward the side of the car with centrifugal force when the cars rounded a curve. Itis an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide centering-means controlling the lateral movements of the buffer stems and buffer plate and its connected parts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of centering and cushioning means for the buffer stems, which cushioning means is made of a non-metallic material to prevent transmis-. sion of noise from the stems to the main car structure.

A still. further object of the invention is the provision of resilient centering devices for buffer stems which will control the position of the stems at all times while permitting variations in the transverse spacing of the stems due to movement on curves.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combined centering device and,

sound deadening cushion formed of nonmetallic material acting in compression to center the buffer stems and in shear to assist in controlling the longitudinal movement of the stems as well as assist in supporting the stems.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:v

Figure 1 is a plan View of the end portion of the underframe of a car and having portions of the structure broken away to more fully disclose the cushioning devices;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure taken through the cushioning device and showing the relation of the various parts; 5

Fig. -3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of a part of the structure; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1fi of Fig. 3 and better disclosing the relation of parts.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the invention has been illustrated as applied to a combined end casting, draft gear housing and post support, but it will be obvious that any typeof end. underfranie construction may be used; The end structure as stated consists of asingle casting having a projecting buffer nose with a rounded forward face 2 located above the coupler head 4 and thus acting as is customary in such structures as an anticlimberas Well'as a buffer nose. The casting is provided with a housing to receive-any suitable draft gear and with ribs or brackets by means-of which end wallposts may be attached thereto. The passageway forming end posts are shown as chan nels ii, while the intermediate posts 8 are of Z section and these posts are all connected together by means of end wall sheet it. Adjacent the outer end of the casting, pockets or brackets are provided by means of which the collision posts l2'may be rigidly attached to the casting as well as end sill members It and outer side or corner posts i 6. The end of the car will be closed by sheets l8 secured to the outer posts and to the collision posts, thereby forming with the end wall of the car proper a passageway for entrance and exit of passengers as is customary.

The end structure, whether it be cast or other form, is provided with laterally extending lugs 28 having openings therethrough to receive bufi'er stems 22. These stems extend forwardly from the brackets and through the curved face ofthe buffernose as well as through an intermediate web 24 of the casting or similar structure. The openings through the buffer nose and intermediate web are of sufiicient size to permit the necessary lateral play of the buffer stems and without the buffer stems contacting the sides of the openings. The buffer stems may be made of solid metal oras shown may be made of tubular section with an outer end 26 welded or otherwise secured thereto and formed with a vertically disposed, opening 28 for reception of a pivot pin by means of which the buifer stem is pivotally connected to the buifer plate 33. The buffer plate is of angle form and has connected thereto the customary foot plate 32 adapted to overlap the floor of the passageway and form a continuous surface between cars as is customary. The central portion of the buffer stems has welded or otherwise secured thereto a washer 34 adapted to form a seat for one end of buffer spring 36,

the other end of which bears against a ferrule 38 loosely engaged with the buffer stem. The ferrule is surrounded by rubber or other material 40 which bears against the front face and opening in bracket 20 of the end member, thus preventing transmission of sound from the buffer stem to the end member. The buffer stem will be held in position by means of threaded plug member 42 welded or otherwise secured to the stem and provided with nut and washer 44 adapted to engage the bracket 20 preventing removal of the stem.

In order to hold the buffer stems centered and to cushion lateral play thereof, cushioning devices are provided each consisting of an outer plate bonded to a non-metallic cushion 52 which is also joined to an inner plate 54. The outer plate is secured to the end member by means of bolts or other means 56, while the inner plate is secured by means of countersunk bolts 58 to a curved substantially semi-circular or semi-cylindrical wear plate or shoe 6!), which plate is also welded to the inner plate, such welding being accomplished by use of filler bars 62. Wear of the buffer stems themselves is prevented by Welding thereto bearing pads 64, which pads, of course, may be readily renewed when necessary. In assembling the structure the cushioning units are of such thickness as to be placed under considerable compression when the pivot pins at the outer ends of the stems are fastened to the buffer plate in its normal position extending transversely of the car. Free pressure of the resilient material 52 is sufiicient to maintain semi-cylindrical shoe 60 in contact with bearing pads 64 at all times regardless of the possible spacing between the buffer stem. It will be apparent that due to the curved shape of the bearing shoe 60 and the heavy precompression under which the non-metallic material is placed that the material will assist in supporting the buffer stems in their horizontal position, such support being accomplished by the non-metallic material acting in shear. Furthermore, longitudinal motion of the buffer stems will be controlled by the non-metallic material acting in shear to the extent permitted by the friction between shoe 6i]- and bearing pad 64. As soon as the resistance of the non-metallic material acting in shear exceeds the-frictional value between the shoes, then the shoes will slide to a new position and again assume control over the longitudinal movements of the buffer stem in their new position. With the cushioning devices arranged as shown and placed under comparatively heavy precompression, the centrifugal throw of the buffer plate and attached structure will be controlled and the stems can never strike the metallic part of the car. It will be obvious that the buffer stems are at their most widely spaced position when the buifer plate is in its normal position perpendicular to the center line of the car and will move towards each other, thereby lessening the compression in the nonmetallic material whenever the buffer plate assumes some position other than perpendicular to the car center line. Precompression of the nonmetallic material, as previously stated, is of suflicient degree to always maintain the bearing shoes in contact with the buffer stems, even though the buffer plate be turned at a considerable angle from its normal position.

While the invention has been shown and described more or less in detail, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of parts may be made and all such modifications and rearrangements of parts are contemplated as will fall within the scope of the appended claims defining my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car, an end structure, spaced buffer stems projecting through the end structure, a buffer plate joining said stems together, a buffer stem conforming shoe engaging the outer side only of each stem adjacent the end structure, and resilient means interposed between the end structure and each buffer stem conforming shoe and operative in compression to force said shoes into tight engagement with said stems to maintain said stems in laterally spaced relation to the end structure.

2. In a railway car, an end structure, spaced buffer stems projecting through the end. structure, a buffer plate joining said stems together, a buffer stem conforming shoe engaging each stem adjacent the end structure, and resilient means interposed between the end structure and each buffer stem conforming shoe and operative in compression to force said shoes into tight engagement with said stems to retain the latter in spaced relation to the end structure, said resilient means comprising rubber operative in shear to resist longitudinal movement of said buffer stems relative to said end structure.

3. In a railway car the combination with an end structure of spaced buffer stems, a buffer plate joining said stems together, centering means for said stems and plate including buffer stem conforming shoes engaging only the outer side of said stems, and resilient means interposed between said stems and end structure and forcing said stem conforming shoes toward each other and into tight engagement with the buffer stems, said resilient means comprising rubber units precompressed sufiiciently to constantly force said shoes against the buffer stems and to retain said stems in spaced relation to the end structure.

4. In a railway car the combination of an end structure having openings therein, buffer stems positioned in said openings and extending outwardly of the end structure, a buffer plate joining said stems together, and non-metallic resilient means holding said stems in spaced relation to the sides of said openings and out of metallic contact with the end structure at all times, said resilient means comprising rubber units at least some of which act both in compression and in shear to hold the stems in said spaced relation to the sides of the openings and to support the stems, said resilient means being so arranged as to permit sliding movement of said stems relative thereto.

5. In a railway car the combination of an end structure having openings therein, buffer stems positioned in said openings and extending outwardly of the end structure, a buffer plate joining said stems together, and resilient means interposed between the end structure and stems and holding. said stems in spaced relation to the sides of said opening at all times, said resilient means comprising rubber units positioned adjacent the outer sides of the intermediate portions of said stems, said resilient units being preloaded in compression and also being operative in shear to resist relative longitudinal movements of said end structure and stems.

6. As an article of manufacture, a cushioning and centering device for railway car buffer stems comprising spaced plates, non-metallic resilient material bonded to said plates and joining the same together whereby said material may be subjected to both compressive and shearing strains, and a buffer stem engaging shoe secured to one of said plates, said shoe being shaped to engage approximately one half the perimeter only of said stem within a given length.

7. In a railway car the combination of an end structure having openings therein, a buffer stem positioned in the openings at each side of the end structure and extending outwardly of the end structure, a buffer plate joining the stems together, springs urging said stems and buffer plate outwardly from the end structure, non-metallic means adjacent the inner ends of the stems and preventing direct contact of the springs and buffer stems with the end structure, and other non-metallic resilient means adjacent th outer ends of the stems and holding the same out of metallic contact with the end structure at all times, said resilient means being so arranged that said stems are bodily slidable relative thereto.

8. In a railway car the combination of an end structure having openings therein, a bufier stem positioned in the openings at each side of the end structure and extending outwardly of the end structure, a buffer plate joining the stems together, springs urging said stems and buffer plate outwardly from the end structure, nonmetallic means adjacent the inner ends of the stems and preventing direct contact of the springs and buffer stem with the end structure, and other non-metallic resilient means adjacent the outer ends of the stems and holding the same out of metallic contact with the end structure at all times, said non-metallic resilient means comprising rubber units acting both in compression and in shear to hold the stems in spaced relation to the sides of the openings and to support the stems.

9. In a railway car, an end structure, spaced buffer stems projecting through the end structure, a bufier plate joining said stems together, a buffer stem conforming shoe engaging each stem adjacent the end structure and arranged in frictional engagement with the outer side only of the stem, and resilient means interposed between the end structure and each bufier stem conforming shoe, said resilient means being operative in compression to force said shoes into tight engagement with said stems to retain the latter in spaced relation to the end structure.

10. In a railway car having an end structure, the combination of spaced buffer stems supported on the end structure, a buffer plate to which said stems are connected, and means at least partly supporting said stems and plate and comprising buffer stem conforming shoes frictionally engaging said stems and resilient means interposed between said stems and end structure and operative in compression to force said shoes toward each other to maintain said shoes in tight engagement with said stems and to retain the stems in laterally spaced relation to the end structure, said resilient means being also operative in shear to resist relative longitudinal movements of the stems and end structure.

RALPH G. NICHOLS. 

